3
Team-By-Team: Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
McLaren returned to the top step of the
podium for the third time in five races
thanks to another measured drive by Jenson
Button, with the Briton taking advantage of
the changeable conditions to take his 11th
career victory on his 200th career start. He
and Hamilton were 1-2 for much of the race,
with the pair commencing a battle for the
lead when Hamilton spun in the damp. While
Button went on to take the celebrated victory,
Hamilton dropped to fourth after mistakenly
pitting for intermediates in the closing third
and earning a drive-through penalty for
pushing di Resta off-track while he recovered
from his spin.
Red Bull’s slump in form continued in Hungary
at the weekend as they fell to their fourth
defeat in five races at the hands of McLaren.
Although Vettel battled to pole on Saturday,
thanks largely to a mistake by Hamilton on
his fast lap, he was unable to match their
pace on Sunday and secured second only
after Hamilton had plummeted through
the field. Webber endured an even tougher
race after slumping to fifth, having pitted
for intermediates in the final 20 laps when a
quick shower swept across the track. He was
then overtaken by Hamilton while lapping
backmarkers with 7 laps to go.
Renault’s mid-season slump continued
in Hungary on Sunday, as they left a race
weekend empty-handed for the first time since
their double retirement at last year’s Japanese
Grand Prix. Nick Heidfeld’s race lasted only
until the beginning of lap 24 before emerging
from the pitlane ablaze, while Petrov threw
a potential top ten finish away by pitting for
intermediates like so many others. He was
running ninth at the time with a five-second
cushion to tenth, but dropped to 12th when he
pitted and re-pitted for slicks.
Mercedes endured yet another disappointing
Grand Prix result, collecting just two points
for their efforts in Hungary. Rosberg and
Schumacher both looked set for top eight
finishes in the first third of the race, but
circumstances conspired against them in the
final two thirds. Schumacher retired after a
gearbox failure on lap 26, having spun to avoid
contact with Massa earlier in the lap. Rosberg,
meanwhile, took the flag in ninth having run
6th with 25 laps to go. He then lost a place to
Massa, pitted for intermediates and regained
two places to finish behind di Resta and Buemi.
Rubens Barrichello was another driver to have
a potential top ten finish denied by pitting
for intermediates during the late-race shower,
as Williams’ points drought extended to four
races. A great start by Barrichello saw him
climb to 11th from 15th on the grid and he was
running in the top ten during his third stint.
He lost two places when the rain arrived and
slipped further behind by pitting to take the
flag in 13th. Maldonado similarly opted for pit
for intermediates but was out of contention for
points in 15th at the time anyway.
Alonso and Massa survived a number of off-
track excursions during the race to keep piling
on the points at Ferrari, with Alonso taking his
fourth podium finish in a row. He lost places
twice in the first ten laps before finally getting
his act together and climbing into the top
three. His four-stop strategy meant he couldn’t
challenge for the victory. Massa meanwhile
finished a distant sixth on a similar four-stopper.
Like Alonso, he had trouble keeping on-track
and spun at turn 2 on lap 8 causing slight
damage to his rear wing, but he ended up
setting the fastest lap of the race.